Illustration by Michael Parkin

Let’s face it – cash still rules everything in 2020. But that doesn’t mean you have to lose yourself in the process. Here is a reminder why you should put you first; yes you!

Unfortunately your yearly income will have a major impact on the quality of your life. While this succumbs to a capitalistic way of thinking the numbers don’t lie. If you are living check to check, as I had for several years, chances are the majority of your efforts, both conscious and subconscious, will be rooted in how to stay afloat. On the flip side if you make big coin in a high profile position it can be a challenge to totally unplug at check out time. But we all deserve better.

We should all strive to live a meaningful and fruitful life that aligns with our interests, goals, talents, and passion points. Simply put if the majority of your prime years point to just being the worker bee than you are doing it all wrong. Sure we all need a roof over our heads, food on our plate, clothes on our back but the hustle should never overtake our hearts and minds. I speak from experience as I have been guilty of working on projects that were not time sensitive during critical family moments, answering emails while I drive and even worse taking a conference call at a funeral which is something that I regret till this day.

Thankfully I have managed to no longer prioritize my work life over my real life. If you still struggle with the shift then put the smartphone down and close the laptop now. Here are some sensible tips on how you can get back to the being you; the real you.

Set The Tone

I have found that how you start the day will dictate how you finish it. Meaning if you wake up with positive energy chances are you will carry those vibes wherever you go; so it is critical we put the focus on you in the AM. While I am guilty of opening up my phone as soon as I get out of bed I have gotten better at what I consume in the wee hours. I no longer open emails from my job instead I look at my calendar to see if there any milestone moments occurring like birthdays, anniversaries, etc. Additionally I check my horoscope so I know what to expect once I leave the house. Sometimes I’ll browse through social media but I try to limit the scrolling so I don’t get lost in the sauce. These slight tweaks allow me to focus on me and getting a day started that isn’t weighed down by work stress.

Mandatory Lunch Meetings

If you work a desk job like me then I urge you to take advantage of your mandatory lunch break. While you want to be a team player and meet those company deadlines there is no reason for you to invest even more of your personal time to a company you do not own. If you find yourself eating your lunch at your desk then you are doing yourself a disservice. From my experience you will still be typing away on your keyboard, taking calls, crunching numbers and not truly pulling away. If there is a common area where employees eat then take your food there. That different scenery is a game changer as your associates and co-workers are more prone to respect your space and leave those insignificant work questions on the cutting room floor.

I still eat at my desk purposely though to serve as a working lunch. Later in the day I take my break to go to the gym. This is usually at the end of the day and I leave to go home on such a high note. If fitness isn’t your twist than give some thought how to maximize that 60 minute time out. I’ve seen other professionals go take a walk, read a book or simply shut their office door so interrupting their personal space isn’t an option. And it all works.

Not A Matter Of Life And Death

Time and time again I have been reminded that things can wait; even work related matters. This doesn’t mean that you should stay on cruise control and coast to underachievement at your 9 to 5. But unless you’re a medical professional, police officer or firefighter your duties are not that critical. Meaning if you don’t respond to an email quick enough life will go on with no lives being lost.

In my 20’s I used to come into the office on the weekends to catch up on work only to find out you can never do enough in corporate America. Today you can be praised for your efforts and tomorrow you’ll be criticized for some so trivial that will literally suck the energy right out of you. This is why it is key to maintain a realistic approach about how much of you is given to any job; especially when you don’t have ownership!

As a business owner it is even more difficult to keep a fine work life balance because these entities succeed or fail based on my own individual efforts. If you’re an entrepreneur it really comes down to prioritizing those high yield projects and keeping those second and third tier opportunities in motion. Regardless your well being and peace of mind should come first.

Time Is The Ultimate Luxury

As I typed this editorial on a Sunday afternoon my 9 to 5 co-workers are going back and forth on a group chat about planning a good-bye dinner for our old boss. Ironically my wife is also expressing some things to me that need my full attention but in a moment of haste I reverted to my old ways. In the middle of our of conversation I stopped to reply to the group via my Apple Watch but as soon I sent my response it dawned on me that this dinner scheduling can wait. I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and this mistake served me as a great reminder. Business shouldn’t always come first.

Time is the ultimate luxury because once it is gone it is gone forever and it can’t be bought. By over investing into your work we are prone to miss out on what really is special; the people in our lives. This not only means your family and significant other but also the friends and associates who have all helped you along the way. By putting you first it will allow for more memorable moments to be created among your inner circle. Don’t be that professional who gave everything to the workforce but has a personal life that is in disarray. Your career can wait and for good reason.

Words by Mr. Martin Jean Founder, Flawless Crowns @IAmMartinJean